REGULAR MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, March 1, 2022
BELROCKTON
108 HANOVER STREET
7:00 P.M.
A meeting of the City Council of the City of Belding, Michigan was convened in open and public session at the Belrockton, 108 Hanover Street at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
Mayor Bruce Meyers called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Council Member Scheid gave the Invocation.
Mayor Meyers led the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk, Janae Cooper took the roll call:
Members present: Bonita Steele, Jorel Davis, Ron Gunderson, Mike Scheid and Bruce Meyers
Members absent: None
Moved by Gunderson seconded by Steele to approve the Agenda as presented. Mayor Meyers noted the following addition to the Agenda: Add Presentation by Tate Jeske after the first Public Comment section of the Agenda. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Tate Jeske has acquired 87% of the Covered Village Mall. He plans to renovate and rehab the mall. As of today, seven brand new tenants have committed to putting a business in the mall (currently there are only two business in the Mall; Rite Aid and Family Dollar). An additional 32k square feet are to be occupied by April 1st. Jeske advised that he will not be tearing down the mall. He will be adding residential units; it will be a multi-year process. He hopes ¾ of the mall will be rented and occupied by the time of the Macker tournament this summer.
Moved by Davis seconded by Scheid to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
The Consent Agenda is as follows:
Approve Independent Bank – File Approval Confirmation Approve Independent Bank – ACH Transaction Approval Confirmation
Gunderson reported that the Museum Board meeting was cancelled due to ice. The Library Board had a short meeting. Bills are paid, circulation is up and they revised the dress policy.
Davis reported that the Planning Commission met on February 22nd. The Annual Report on today’s Consent Agenda was part of that meeting. Davis reported the highlights of the report. Additionally, he reported that there was a discussion to look over zoning ordinances and best practices.
Mayor Meyers reported that the Housing Commission met on March 24th.
A. Fee Schedule - City Manager, Jon Stoppels gave an update on the traffic tickets/e-tickets portion of the fee schedule. E-tickets will speed up the contact with the motorist. The officer will scan the license, which will produce a ticket for the motorist and also scan it to district court. This will allow for better accuracy of information. The current ticketing fees of $20, $30 and $50 will all change to $30. Ticketing for handicap parking will remain at $75. Moved by Scheid, seconded by Steele to adopt the revised traffic ticket/e-ticket portion of the fee schedule. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all. Stoppels added that other fees are still under review and are being compared to other communities.
B. Water and Sewer Rate Study – Stoppels reported that the last water and sewer rate study was completed in 2016. There has been no increase in rates since 2020. The study takes our city’s costs into account as each city has different needs and water usage amounts, which would allow for a more accurate water rate increase. Moved by Scheid, seconded by Davis to approve a contract between the City of Belding and Utility Financial Services (UFS) for UFS to perform a water and sewer rate stud y io include a recommendation for rate increases over a multi-year period. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
C. Permission to Burn Brush Pile – DPW and the Belding Fire Department sought permission to burn the brush pile on Reed Street again this year (weather permitting). Over the past year it has accumulated to approximately one acre and 12-feet tall. Steele commented on other methods versus burning the brush pile, such as composting. Fire Chief Tim Lubitz commented on the cost to “tune the pile” (compost) and chipping the brush. Additionally, the fire department can use this as a training exercise. Stopples advised the council to get back to square one and then come up with a better process. Moved by Scheid, seconded by Davis to burn the brush pile. Motion carried 4-1 by the following roll call vote:
YEAS: Council Members Scheid, Gunderson, Davis and Meyers
NAYS: Council Member Steele
D. Moved by Scheid, seconded by Steele to appoint Jinne Esposito to the Planning Commission. Esposito was a former applicant seeking appointment to the City Council. She also submitted an Application for Appointment to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission recommended her appointment at their February 22, 2022 regular meeting. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Stoppels will hand out the proposed staff budget after the meeting It is balanced with the first proposal. Additionally, he has added an executive summary showing where we are from last year.
Stoppels reported that code enforcement has a 75-80% success rate; far better than any city he has worked with.
He has been to DPW to get to know them better and to see what they need as well as to determine what services they could improve.
He continues to work on the fee schedule. A deadline has not been set as he plans to do it by section.
Stoppels will be following the State’s lead on COVID protocols.
Davis thanked Esposito for her application to be on the Planning Commission. He thanked Jeske for taking on the mall and hopefully rejuvenating it. He thanked everyone for coming to the meeting.
Steele commented on Stoppels settling in. She commented on her concerns being addressed.
Gunderson thanked Jeske and Esposito. He has been hearing positive comments from the citizens and staff. He thanked everyone for coming to the meeting.
Scheid thanked Esposito and Jeske.
Mayor Meyers thanked Esposito and Jeske. He commented on Stoppels being here (City of Belding) and he thanked Stoppels and the staff.
Stoppels noted that two bids have been received on the outside repairs for the Depot. They are currently being evaluated. No bids were received on the interior work.
Mayor Meyers called for a brief recess at 7:46 p.m. to enter into Closed Session per MCL 15.268fc to discuss wastewater treatment plant fines.
Moved by Scheid, seconded by Gunderson to enter into Closed Session at 7:47 p.m.
Moved by Davis, seconded by Scheid to return to Open Session at 8:09 p.m.
Moved by Gunderson, seconded by Scheid to allow Stoppels to continue to negotiate with Varnum and EGLE. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – all.
Moved by Scheid seconded by Steele to adjourn the meeting at 8:11 p.m. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Yes – All.
__________________________________ __________________________________
Bruce Meyers, Mayor Janae K. Cooper, City Clerk